Images of the opening of the The "OURS TO FIGHT FOR: AMERICAN JEWS IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR" special exhibit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum. This collection of artifacts and photographs of local Jewish men and women who were part of the American war effort.

For this photographer/reporter, the exhibition highlight is the "Wall of Honor" featuring photographs of nearly 400 local World War II service people. One of those photographs is of my late father, Arthur Greenberg, who went into active service on July 16, 1942. After basic training, my father was a supply sergeant in a medical detachment posted at the Clinton Prisoner of War stockade/Camp –Clinton, Mississippi- 6 miles from Jackson, Mississippi. In February , 1944 , he was in charge of the German Officer Barracks which included General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim, who was the commander of the Afrika Corps (Rommel left for France and ultimately an attempt on Hitler’s life.). Von Arnim was captured by the British in May, 1943 and spent the war as a POW along with 24 other German officers at Camp Clinton, Mississippi. A Jew guarding Nazis in prison, how fitting. In October, 1944, my father was transferred to France and was stationed there until the end of fighting in Europe.
My father never volunteered much about his service record. When asked about it, a typical response was “Nothing to really talk about. Saw no action. “ It was not until my parents passed away that in 2005, that I discovered my father’s unique service record. I found approximately 50 letters my mother received from my father during the war. A number of letters described his adventures at Camp Clinton. In addition, there was a photo album of his time in basic training in Texas, a couple of his time in Camp Clinton (one submitted for the exhibition) and numerous photos of adventures on leave in France. His discharge papers document his service record at Camp Clinton.

See more of Michael Greenberg photography at www.imagetripping.com